Star Walker of the Month

November, 2006

 

Princess Diana

 July 1st  1961 - August 31st  1997

 

HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so

you can shake their hands and give them a hug.

Heaven knows they need it.” Princess Diana

 

by – G. K. Holland

The Star Walker of the Month for November 2006 is a woman who was renowned for her style and poise. Inevitably this brought her to be closely associated with the fashion world. It can be said that she single handedly raised the profile of younger British designers.  She has since become best known for her charitable work around the world. Even during her marriage to Prince Charles, the Princess preceded over 100 charities. The Princess did much to publicize work on behalf of disabled people, children, the homeless and people with HIV/Aids. In December 1993, the Princess announced that she would be reducing the extent of her public life in order to combine 'a meaningful public role with a more private life'.

After her separation from The Prince of Wales, the Princess continued to appear with the Royal Family on various national occasions, but after her divorce, the Princess resigned most of her charity and other patronages, and discontinued her Service appointments with military units. However, Princess remained as patron of Centerpoint (a homeless charity), The English National Ballet, Leprosy Mission, The National Aids Trust, she was President of the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street and also was heavily involved in the Royal Marsden Hospital.

In an effort to further her ever growing effort to distance herself from the high tower perception of the world her Royal status gave her, in June 1997 the Princess made her way to attend receptions in London and New York to take part in the sale of a number of dresses and suits worn by her on official royal engagements. This was done so that she might further raise money and much needed attention on the charities she was involved in.  All of the proceeds from these events went to charity.

The Princess spent her 36th and last birthday on 1 July 1997 attending the Tate Gallery's 100th anniversary celebrations. Her last official engagement in Britain was on 21 July, when she visited Northwick Park Hospital, London (children's accident and emergency unit).

The tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales occurred on Sunday, 31 August 1997 following a car accident in Paris, France. The vehicle in which the Princess was traveling was involved in a high-speed accident in the Place de l'Alma underpass in central Paris shortly before midnight on Saturday, 30 August. The Princess was taken to the La Pitie Salpetriere Hospital, where she underwent two hours of emergency surgery before being declared dead at 0300 BST. The Princess's companion, Mr Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the vehicle died in the accident, whilst a bodyguard was seriously injured.

It was in recognition of her charity work that representatives of the charities with which she worked during her life were invited to walk behind her coffin with her family from St James's Palace to Westminster Abbey on the day of her funeral.

Following the funeral service, the coffin then was taken by road to the family estate at Althorp for a private interment. The Princess was buried in sanctified ground on an island in the centre of an ornamental lake.

 

HER HUMANITARIAN WORK CONTINUES…..

 

In January 1997, the Princess visited Angola as part of her campaign. in June, the Princess spoke at the landmines conference at the Royal Geographical Society in London, and this was followed by a visit to Washington DC in the United States on 17/18 June to promote the American Red Cross landmines campaign (separately, she also met Mother Teresa in the Bronx, New York). The Princess's last public engagements were during her visit to Bosnia from 7 to 10 August, when she visited landmine projects in Travnic, Sarajevo and Zenezica. In the year before her untimely death, the Princess was an active campaigner for a ban on the manufacture and use of land mines.

 

The fact that her reputation of being an activist and humanitarian continues to affect movement towards change and helping people all these years after her tragic accident, attests to the true essence of her humanitarian royalty and greatness.

 

I remember having always been a bit far removed from the Royal family as it always seemed so out of touch with ‘real everyday life’. Since then, I found it rather inspirational that she used her position to help people in need, she visited the sick and helped many people. She showed a genuine love and caring for her fellow human kind. Once I began to discover what she was really about, I felt a great loss at not having known more about her.  And I more so regretted that I had not taken to celebrating her great poise and kindness as much as millions around the world had already been doing. At a time when the world seems to make less and less sense,

The Princess was quoted as saying: “I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and

age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that, I want to do that.”  Her words acknowledge something that is needed even more so today.

 

So in acknowledging her great acts and example of how we should all care about one another, we chose her for our November Star Walker of the Month.  Princess Diana brought a bouquet of hope and love for all who were open to receiving it. 

Princess Diana handing out bouquets of Hope…..

 

Princess Diana we would like to thank you for the time you spent here on the planet and leaving such a gift of love and hope. We thank you for being such a great example of selflessness and hope for others to follow. May God bless and forever embrace your lovely spirit. You lived a life filled with abundant love for others and a magnificent hope for the world. You embody what the Star Walkers are all about, which is goodness, loyalty, friendship, courage, kindness, family, purpose, hope and love. You are more than remembered, because you are, a Star Walker.

   

  To Star Walk – Click here and find Princess Di’s star as she is forever remembered in the galaxy of the stars within the Star Walker Universe. View and watch the skies slowly fill in the coming months and years as the light of Star Walker, after Star Walker, after Star Walker fills the heavens. We do this as an interactive memorial and tribute to those who have through fate, destiny, and even under divine purpose, left the rest of us behind. Either as celebrity, friend, family, beloved one, or simply fellow human kind, in the spirit of the Star Walker Ken Ju Kai – Princess Diana we remember you.

 

Star Walker of the Month for December 2006  is – Paul Allen Knopf